Articles by Axel Metz, Phones Editor

Axel is TechRadar's Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Working out of the brand’s London office, he is a versatile, NCTJ-accredited journalist with a keen interest in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and has bylines in various publications including Total Film, ShortList, Esquire, and FourFourTwo.

After graduating from the University of Warwick with a degree in English Literature, Axel spent time as a freelance writer before joining TechRadar as part of its inaugural digital training scheme. His role sees him keeping a close eye on the latest trends in the worlds of mobile technology and digital culture, and his coverage extends from news reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.

Away from the keyboard, Axel can be found working his way through a lengthy watchlist of films and counting down the days until Chelsea's next managerial change. Want to get in touch? You can contact Axel over email (linked above) or through Twitter.

Articles by: Axel Metz

The iPhone 17 Pro being held in the hand next to the iPhone Air

iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone Air: a choice between head and heart

By Axel Metz published 20 April 26

I've spent months testing the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air — here's which one you should buy.

The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion on a red backround

The best Motorola phones: top Edge, Razr, and G models

By Axel Metz last updated 14 April 26

Updated Our roundup of the best Motorola phones features models for every budget and use case.

Best Xiaomi phones: top Xiaomi, Poco mobiles tried and tested

By Roland Moore-Colyer last updated 10 April 26

Updated Our roundup of the best Xiaomi phones features models for every budget, from the Xiaomi 17 to the Poco X8 Pro Max.

‘Apple will grit its teeth and push through’ — new report suggests the iPhone Air 2 isn’t dead, and I sincerely hope it’s true

By Axel Metz published 10 April 26

Apple will reportedly release the iPhone Air 2 ‘no matter how badly it sells,' and while I don't necessarily believe it, I hope it's true.

3 Comments

A man in the Atacama Desert staring into the night sky

I went stargazing in the Atacama Desert and used a hidden iOS 26 feature to capture the night sky — here’s how to take similar photos on your iPhone

By Axel Metz published 8 April 26

iOS 26 features a hidden boost for your iPhone’s Night Mode, so I went to the Atacama Desert to try it out — here are the results.

2 Comments

The iPhone 17 Pro Max on a blue background

The best iPhone: we've tried and tested all the Apple smartphones

By Roland Moore-Colyer last updated 8 April 26

Updated We've tested and ranked the best iPhones, from the supersized iPhone 17 Pro Max to the budget-friendly iPhone 16e.

The Apple iPad 11-inch (2025) on a green background

The best cheap tablets: top picks from Apple, Amazon and more, for people on a budget

By Axel Metz last updated 7 April 26

Updated Our expert guide on the best cheap tablets features affordable models from Apple, OnePlus, Amazon and more, which you can buy today.

Tim Cook presenting at a recent Apple launch

‘You can’t spread your energy like peanut butter’: Tim Cook shares rare insight into Apple’s ‘ruthless’ approach to new ideas — and it says a lot about what to expect (or not) from the company moving forward

By Axel Metz published 2 April 26

In a new interview, Tim Cook shared a rare insight into the way he deals with new ideas at Apple.

I spent a morning with the Samsung Galaxy A57, and I'll be amazed if this isn't one of the best cheap phones of 2026

By Axel Metz published 25 March 26

The Galaxy A57 is the latest entry in Samsung's increasingly impressive mid-range lineup – here are my first impressions of the new device.

The Scapade AirPack on a man in the desert

I took this Find My-enabled backpack to 7 different countries, and I’ll never go back to tech-free travel gear

By Axel Metz published 21 March 26

The Scapade AirPack is a Find My-enabled backpack for tech-loving travelers — here's how it fared on a real-world adventure.

A man holding the iPhone Air in landscape

iPhone Air at 6 months — here’s what I love, what I hate, and why it’s ‘the most conflicted I’ve ever been about a phone’

By Axel Metz published 19 March 26

Apple's iPhone Air has been out for six months — here's everything I've come to love and hate about the device in that time.

4 Comments

The iPhone 17 Pro in the Selfix selfie case

This wild iPhone 17 Pro case features a touchscreen for 48MP selfies

By Axel Metz published 17 March 26

The latest offering from Kickstarter case brand Dockcase is an iPhone 17 Pro case with a rear touchscreen.

Liquid Glass interface on an orange background

Liquid Glass ‘isn’t going anywhere’ in iOS 27 — but there’s good news for its readability

By Axel Metz published 16 March 26

Apple will reportedly focus on performance and stability in iOS 27, but Liquid Glass could get an important customization tweak.

I love the MacBook Neo and its wild colors — but Apple missed a big trick with the iPhone 17e

By Axel Metz published 13 March 26

Apple ripped up the budget rulebook with the MacBook Neo, but I think it missed a trick in the color department.

A pink iPhone 17e next to a green iPhone 17

iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: which entry-level Apple phone is best for you?

By Axel Metz published 10 March 26

The iPhone 17e and iPhone 17 both offer impressive value for money, but they're intended for different types of users.

Foldable iPhone: latest rumors, news and everything we know so far

By Axel Metz last updated 6 January 26

Updated It may be some time before we see a foldable iPhone from Apple, but here's all we've heard about what might come.

CES 2025 live: all the latest news from the world's biggest tech show

By Mark Wilson last updated 5 January 26

CES 2025 is now well underway and we're live at the show – here's all of the latest tech news.

Composite image; Samsung Galaxy S25, iPhone 17, and Google Pixel 10

Bigger batteries, better AI, and more: here’s what the TechRadar team wants to see from smartphones in 2026

By Jamie Richards published 29 December 25

Here’s what our resident tech-heads are hoping for in the world of smartphones next year.

Siri Suggestions on an iPhone 16 Pro Max

This underrated Siri feature proves Apple can do AI – but the iPhone’s voice assistant still needs a drastic makeover in 2026

By Axel Metz published 22 December 25

After noticing the subtle improvements made to Siri Suggestions, I'm convinced that Apple can bring meaningful AI upgrades to the iPhone in 2026.

The AirPods Pro 2 earbuds next to their case

How to use AirPods as a video mic in iOS 26

By Axel Metz published 19 December 25

In iOS 26, your AirPods can double as a video microphone. Here’s how to enable the feature.

Jerry Bruckheimer alongside the poster for Black Hawk Down

Exclusive: Jerry Bruckheimer reacts to Quentin Tarantino naming Black Hawk Down the best movie of the 21st century

By Axel Metz published 12 December 25

We spoke with producer Jerry Bruckheimer about Quentin Tarantino naming Black Hawk Down the best movie of the 21st century.

‘They gave us the iPhone camera’: F1 producer Jerry Bruckheimer on Apple’s ‘phenomenal’ involvement in the movie’s production

By Axel Metz published 11 December 25

We spoke with F1 producer Jerry Bruckheimer ahead of the film's streaming release on Apple TV.

5 rumored Samsung Galaxy S26 upgrades – from chipset surprises to magnetic charging

By Axel Metz published 10 December 25

The Samsung Galaxy S26 line is expected to debut in early 2026 – here are the biggest rumored upgrades we've heard so far.

The OnePlus 15R and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipest

‘Qualcomm knows it has to fight back’: OnePlus exec explains why Apple is (partially) responsible for the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset

By Axel Metz published 3 December 25

OnePlus exec Rudolf Xu explains why Qualcomm decided to develop the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, and why OnePlus has decided to use it in the OnePlus 15R.

3 Comments

The OnePlus 15 being held up next to the iPhone 17 Pro

I compared the OnePlus 15 and iPhone 17 Pro cameras on vacation – and I honestly can't decide which I prefer

By Axel Metz published 14 November 25

I took the OnePlus 15 and iPhone 17 Pro to Prague for a two-way camera showdown – here are the pictures.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
View Archive

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions:

Axel Metz

Useful links